XIAMEN, CHINA, May 23 — The latest chapter in the intense 400H rivalry between Alison dos Santos and Karsten Warholm yielded a thrilling duel at the second stop on the DL circuit. Though their mutual nemesis Rai Benjamin, the reigning world and Olympic champion, is foregoing the hurdles this year, the Brazilian and Norwegian expect to lock horns throughout the season.
dos Santos looked sharp in beating Warholm over 300H a week earlier in Shaoxing. This time, racing the full lap, they ran in lockstep most of the way before the South American finally pulled away on the runin off the final barrier. The ’22 world champ clocked a world-leading 46.72 to Warholm’s 46.82.
“I always try to get the speed up at 300,” said the winner. “I cannot go too fast at the beginning of the race, so I am excited with the time. I’m happy with it. I did not think I could go that fast with this type of race as I did.”
The WR holder was disappointed to lose but appreciated that he still ran a time rarely seen before June.
“Honestly, 46.82 should reward you with a win. I thought I had him in the last 100, but [he’s got] those long legs,” Warholm said with a laugh. Americans Caleb Dean (47.75) and Trevor Bassitt (47.90) took 3rd and 4th.
Rajindra Campbell improved on his own Jamaican shot record in the fifth round with a 73-3½ (22.34) heave. Jordan Geist took 2nd at 72-3¾ (22.04) and Ryan Crouser, who competed just once last year (winning his third straight world title) while battling an elbow injury, made his season debut with a respectable 70-3 (21.41) for 3rd.
“I’m stronger [coming into this season] and now I’m trying to add the speed to it,” said Campbell, the bronze medalist at the Paris Olympics, who celebrated his first career win over the WR holder. “I think that was the disconnection last year where I got strong but wasn’t able to use it. This year I’m more accustomed to the weight and size. I’m getting faster, so I’m expecting more distance.”
In the 400, Olympic bronze medalist Muzala Samukonga of Zambia took off like a rocket, but Botswana’s Collen Kebinatshipi, last year’s surprise world champion, used a well-measured effort to move ahead with less than 20m to go and secure the win in a list-leading 43.92. Samukonga held on for 2nd in 44.04, followed by South Africa’s Zakithi Nene (44.40).
Jamal Britt completed the sweep of the 110H at the Chinese DL meets with yet another 13.07 — the fourth time this year he’s hit that time, which matches the PR he originally set in ’24. Japan’s Rachid Muratake started well but couldn’t hold off Britt and had to settle for the runner-up spot in 13.13, followed by Orlando Bennett (13.20) and world champ Cordell Tinch (13.28).
Two-time Olympic long jump champion Miltiádis Tentóglou of Greece appears to have bounced back from last year’s disappointing form due to injury. He hit 27-5½ (8.37) in the opening round then improving to 27-9¼ (8.46) on his third attempt, equaling the world lead. He passed his remaining jumps as a spirited competition unfolded in his wake.
Bulgaria’s Bozhidar Sarâboyukov had reached 27-2½ (8.29) in the first round, while Italian world champion Mattia Furlani was in the mix after a 27-2 (8.28) on his third jump. Jamaican Tajay Gayle, the world champion back in ’19 (and the silver medalist last year), found his groove in the later rounds, with a best of 27-3¾ (8.32) in the fifth frame to secure the runner-up spot.
Trayvon Bromell started best in the 100, but Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala finished strongly to take the win comfortably in 9.94. South Africa’s Gift Leotlela, the winner in Shaoxing, took 2nd in 10.00 while Bromell (10.03) edged fellow American Kenny Bednarek (10.03) for 3rd.
“I enjoyed it. I had a good start and a good transition into the top-end speed,” Omanyala said, admitting that his celebration — which started 10m before the finish — was a reaction to knowing he was going to win a DL race for only the second time.
In a 5000 that turned tactical once the pacemakers stepped aside (and the heat and humidity took hold), Ethiopia’s Addisu Yihune (12:57.32) outsprinted Germany’s Mohamed Abdilaahi (12:57.90), the surprise winner of the 3000 in Shaoxing, and Biniam Mehary (12:58.51).
XIAMEN DL MEN’S RESULTS
100(0.2): 1. Ferdinand Omanyala (Ken) 9.94; 2. Gift Leotlela (SA) 10.00; 3. Trayvon Bromell (US) 10.03; 4. Kenny Bednarek (US) 10.03; 5. Akani Simbine (SA) 10.04; 6. Lachlan Kennedy (Aus) 10.06; 7. Christian Coleman (US) 10.08; 8. Letsile Tebogo (Bot) 10.10.
400: 1. Collen Kebinatshipi (Bot) 43.92 (WL);
2. Muzala Samukonga (Zam) 44.04; 3. Zakithi Nene (SA) 44.40; 4. Chris Bailey (US) 44.70; 5. Bayapo Ndori (Bot) 44.88; 6. Christopher Morales Williams (Can) 45.24; 7. Attila Molnár (Hun) 45.49; 8. Vernon Norwood (US) 45.51.
5000: 1. Addisu Yihune (Eth) 12:57.32 (WL) (10:29.15);
2. Mohamed Abdilaahi (Ger) 12:57.90; 3. Biniam Mehary (Eth) 12:58.51; 4. Eduardo Herrera (Mex) 13:00.69; 5. Edwin Kurgat (Ken) 13:01.47 PR; 6. Khairi Bejiga (Eth) 13:06.45 PR; 7. Birhanu Balew (Bhr) 13:07.75 (7:45.08); 8. Cornelious Kemboi (Ken) 13:08.45; 9. Santiago Catrofe (Uru) 13:08.72; 10. Kenneth Kiprop (Uga) 13:08.79; 11. Mathew Kipsang (Ken) 13:12.82; 12. Mezgebu Sime (Eth) 13:13.17; 13. Timothy Cheruiyot (Ken) 13:16.41 PR; 14. Seth O’Donnell (Aus) 13:18.68;… rabbit—Filip Sasinek (CzR) (2:33.56, 5:07.47).
110H(0.5): 1. Jamal Britt (US) 13.07 =PR; 2. Rachid Muratake (Jpn) 13.13; 3. Orlando Bennett (Jam) 13.20; 4. Jason Joseph (Swi) 13.24; 5. Cordell Tinch (US) 13.28; 6. Zhuoyi Xu (Chn) 13.33; 7. Junxi Liu (Chn) 13.35; 8. Enrique Llopis (Spa) 13.36; 9. Eric Edwards (US) 13.43; 10. Enzo Diessl (Aut) 13.44.
400H: 1. Alison dos Santos (Bra) 46.72 (WL);
2. Karsten Warholm (Nor) 46.82; 3. Caleb Dean (US) 47.75; 4. Trevor Bassitt (US) 47.90; 5. Abderrahmane Samba (Qat) 47.93; 6. Matheus Lima (Bra) 48.22; 7. CJ Allen (US) 49.18; 8. Debin Gong (Chn) 50.14; 9. Kyron McMaster (BVI) 52.41.
Field Events
LJ: 1. Miltiádis Tentóglou (Gre) 27-9¼ (8.46) (27-5½, f, 27-9¼, p, p, p) (8.37, f, 8.46, p, p, p);
2. Tajay Gayle (Jam) 27-3¾ (8.32); 3. Bozhidar Sarâboyukov (Bul) 27-2½ (8.29) PR; 4. Mattia Furlani (Ita) 27-2 (8.28); 5. Anvar Anvarov (Uzb) 26-3½ (8.01); 6. Wayne Pinnock (Jam) 26-¼ (7.93).
SP: 1. Rajindra Campbell (Jam) 73-3½ (22.34) NR (f, 71-6¼, 71-9½, f, 73-3½, f) (f, 21.80, 21.88, f, 22.34, f);
2. Jordan Geist (US) 70-7¼ (21.52); 3. Ryan Crouser (US) 70-3 (21.41); 4. Roger Steen (US) 69-8¾ (21.25); 5. Chuk Enekwechi (Ngr) 69-4¼ (21.14); 6. Tom Walsh (NZ) 69-4 (21.13); 7. Adrian Piperi (US) 67-6 (20.57); 8. Uziel Muñoz (Mex) 66-6½ (20.28);… 3f—Leonardo Fabbri (Ita).
